I was supposed to be celebrating my tenth anniversary in Santorini with my husband, Brian. Instead, he canceled our trip at the last minute to take his mother on vacation. I was left feeling hurt and betrayed, but I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I had been planning our anniversary trip for a year, and every detail was meticulously arranged. I had even bought a new dress for our first night in Greece. But when Brian canceled, I felt like my world had been turned upside down.
I decided to take a stand and show Brian that I wouldn’t be taken for granted. I called my friend Liam, who had recently gone through a divorce, and asked him to join me on the trip. He agreed, and we set off for Santorini.
The trip was everything I had hoped for and more. Liam was a great travel companion, and we had a wonderful time exploring the island together. We went on a private yacht tour, had lunch at a vineyard, and watched the sunset in Oia.
As we sat on the balcony of our hotel room, watching the stars, Liam asked me if I was happy that I had decided to take the trip. I told him that I was, and that it had been a great experience. He raised his glass and said, “To teaching husbands not to take their wives for granted.”
I smiled and clinked my glass against his. It was a moment of triumph, and I felt proud of myself for standing up for what I wanted.
When I returned home, Brian was waiting for me at the airport, looking frantic. He asked me who Liam was, and I told him that he was a friend who had joined me on the trip. Brian was angry and hurt, but I stood my ground and told him that I had done what I needed to do.
As we talked, I realized that I had been taken for granted for too long. I deserved better, and I was going to demand it. I told Brian that next time he wanted to make plans, he needed to include me in the conversation. I was no longer going to be an afterthought in my own marriage.
Brian looked at me with a newfound respect, and I knew that our marriage was going to change. I had taken a stand and asserted my self-worth, and it felt amazing.
